Candlelight vigil for peace in Nandigram

Nandigram, Nov 8: A candlelight vigil that began at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday will continue for the next 100 hours over a demand for restoration of peace in Nandigram.

The vigil is being spearheaded by the same group of people who went on a vigil for computer graphic teacher Rizwanur Rehman.

The venue for the vigil is outside St Xavier's College.

The first candlelight vigil was held in Kolkata was in the Rizwanur case where the public demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into his death.

Rizawanur's body was found on the railway tracks between Bidhannagar Road and Dum Dum Junction on September 21, almost a month after his marriage to Priyanka Todi, daughter of a Hindu businessman.

In Nandigram, a turf war between the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Trinamool Congress workers has already claimed four lives, besides leaving thousands homeless and dozens injured.

On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee took to the streets to demand central intervention and the immediate dismissal of the government of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Two persons were killed and 10 others were injured in a fresh bout of violence on Tuesday. The casualties were the victims of a landmine explosion in the area.

CPI (M) and the BUPC supporters exchanged several rounds of fire at Gokulnagar, Ranichak, Bhangaberia and Satengabari.

Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern over Nandigram violence and asked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to look into it urgently.

Nandigram has been the scene of recurring clashes since January resulting in deaths, including 14 in police firing and violence on March 14 when villagers resisted the police from entering.

ANI
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